Feasibility of creating and mining of artificial deposits. Inferences and prospects

The idea of creating artificial deposits is becoming increasingly relevant today due to many factors, including scantiness of mineral resources. A classic example of an artificial deposit is a manmade deposit composed of mining, processing, metallurgical and other industrial waste. At the same time, the technological advance allows both improving the artificial deposit mechanisms and creating new deposits. This article gives key examples of preparedness of the advanced technologies for creation of artificial deposits. The existing methods of mineral mining using natural processes (experimental facility at the Kudryavy volcano—to accumulate useful components from low-density fluids; Svartsengi geothermal power plant—to supply local residents with power and hot water) and using industrial waste (bacterial leaching of difficult minerals, processing of waste of thermal power pants, hydroelectric power plants, etc.) are described. A new option in mineral mining is discussed, namely, space technology Asteroid Redirect Mission (to redirect near-Earth and potentially hazardous asteroids).

PlechovP. Yu., Konovalova K. A. Artificial deposits and the possibility of their creation. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021;(3-1):34—39. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2021_31_0_34.

Plechov P. Yu., Dr. Sci. (Geol. Mineral.), professor RAS, director in Fersman Mineralogical Museum RAS, e-mail: pplechov@gmail.com;
Ksenia A. Konovalova, leading researcher in Fersman Mineralogical Museum RAS, Moscow, Russia, e-mail: spacelikeyou@yandex.ru.
1. Fersman mineralogical museum RAS, Moscow, Russia;
2. Faculty of Geology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia;
3. Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry of RAS, Moscow, Russia.

P.Yu. Plechov, e-mail: pplechov@gmail.com

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